Delaware saw another drop in initial weekly jobless claims as unemployment climbs toward a post-1930s record.
The weekly report from the U.S. Department of Labor reported 6,183 claims compared to nearly 8,000 claims a week earlier.
The number of insured unemployed past the 56,000 mark, compared to about 45,000 a week earlier as more people are approved for payments. Delaware did not comment on the report in a section that allows individual states to report trends.
Claims jumped sharply as the spread of coronavirus lead to states of emergency in Delaware and elsewhere, beginning in March.
The insured unemployment figure would roughly translate into a 12 percent jobless rate, not adjusted for seasonal factors. The number is not believed to include the self-employed who have been unable to operate their businesses, due to coronavirus-related restrictions.
The 12 percent figure is higher than the peak number that followed the financial crisis of 2009 and 2010.
A separate jobless benefit program is being set up the self-employed and “gig workers” that were not part of the unemployment insurance system which is financed by employees and employers.
The insured employment figure does not include those who have given up looking for work or employers or employees who provided incorrect information to the Delaware Department of Labor and had a claim rejected.
The department has been dealing with a flood of applications after years of jobless rates in the four percent range.
The department and its counterparts around the nation have advised those attempting to call the agency to send an email message if the applicant has Internet access.
